Shuttle-feeler thread parter and clamp



v H. A. DAVIS SHUTTLE FEELER THREAD PARTER AND CLAMP May 25 1926.

Filed Jan. 20, 1926 Patented May 25, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFHQE.

HARRY A. DAVIS, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COBPQRA- 'IION', OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

SHUTTLE-FEELER THREAD PAR'IER AND CLAMP.

Application filed January 20, 1926. Serial No. 82,573.

This invention relates to shuttle feeler thread parters and clamps whereby on call for replenishment of filling in an automatic loom, the thread is parted and the end leading to the cloth selvage is clamped and positioned for the action of the temple thread cutter.

It is now the common practice to provide looms of the automatic type with shuttle feelcr thread parters and clamps wherein the parting member itself may in some instances act as a clamp in connection with a clamping member, and it has been common heretofore to provide an additional clamping member to act with the thread parter and clamp in an attempt to prevent release of the thread by the clamp when the shuttle feeler moves to its normal frontw ard position. It frequently happens, however, that when the shuttle feeler moves frontwardly after having operated to part and clamp the thread of the outgoing filling carrier or bobbin, the end leading to the cloth; selvage (which is placed under more or less tension when the shuttle feeler moves to its front position) is withdrawn from the clamp and is consequently not positioned for the action of the temple thread cutter and is liable to be drawn into the shed. In those cases where the shuttle feeler thread parter and clamp are opened as the shuttle feeler moves to its rearward position, it sometimes happens that the end leading to the cloth selvage fails to be fully released by the clamp in its opening movement and is carried backward with the shuttle feeler, and the loose end is liable to be drawn into the shed.

()ne of the objects of the present invention is to provide a shuttle feeler thread parter' and clamp which will positively hold the thread and carry it into position for the temple thread cutter, and when the parter and clamp are opened as the shuttle feeler moves to its rearward shuttle feeling position, will efiectively release or strip the thread from the clamp.

In accordance with the present invention, the clamping surface of the parter and clamp is provided with scores or shallow grooves for clamping and holding the thread and by which. the thread will be lifted from its clamped position when the parter and clamp are opened, and in order to insure positive release of the previously parted and clamped thread, a thread stripper is provided which will strip the thread from the grooves of the clamping surface.

The invention and novel features and new combination of parts will best be made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawings of one good form thereof.

In the drawing" Fig. 1 is av perspective view with parts broken away, showing a shuttle feeler thread parter and clamp containing the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the action of the thread parter and clamp as it acts to part and clamp the thread, port-ions of the shuttle feeler being om tted;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the parter and clamp as having completed the parting and clamping operation and the thread as being positively held by the clamp;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3 showing the parter and clamp as being opened and carrying the previously clamped thread from between the clamping surfaces into engagement with a stripper for tripping the thread from the scores or grooves of the clamping surfaces; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view looking from the other side and front of the shuttle feeler, showing the parting and clamping members as moving further toward their open position and the end of the thread being stripped from the scores or grooves of the clamping surface by the stripper.

The shuttle feeler may be of any of the now well known types, and as herein shown comprises an arm 1 having a hub portion 2 pivotally supported upon a pin or stud 3 carried by a bracket 4 secured to the loom frame, and in the present instance the shuttle feeler is shown as moving in the guideway formed by the slot 5 made in the upwardly extending arm 6 secured to the racket 4. The shuttle feeler has extending from one side thereof the pin 7 which is engaged between the jaws 8 and 9 of an operating member carried by the usual transverse or rock shaft, not herein shown, because such shaft and the features of the shuttle feeler so far described may all be as usual.

The rearwardly extending end portion 10 of the shuttle feeler is provided with the usual jaws 11 and 12 for engagement with the shuttle 13, should the latter not be properly positioned as the shuttle feeler moves to its rearward shuttle feeling position. As shown in the present instance, also, the lay 1 1 is provided with a transverse groove or opening 15 into which the rear end portion of the shuttle feeler may project when it isnioved to its rearward portion, the result being that the thread a leading from the filling carrier in the shuttle will be positioned between the jaws of the shuttle feeler. substantially as usual.

In the particular construction herein shown as an embodiment of the present invention, the shuttle feeler thread parter and clamp is of the double grip type and preferably formed so that the thread leading to the cloth selvage will be first clamped and subsequently parted, but the invention herein is not necessarily restricted to this type or character of shuttle fe'eler thread parter and clamp.

Mounted upon the shuttle feeler is the parting member 16 which may if desired be secured to the shuttle feeler in fixed position, and spaced from the parting member 16 is the clamping member 17 which may also be secured to the shuttle feeler. Between the parting and clamping members 16 and 17 is the combined thread parter and clamp 18 which is herein shown as pivotally supported upon the shuttle feeler by means of the stud 19, the front end portion of the combined parter and clamp being extended downwardly, as at 20, and, when the shuttle feeler thread parter and clamp are in rearward position, the downward extension 20 is constructed to be struck by the lay or a part car ried by the lay, to thereby part and clamp the thread.

The combined parter and clamp 18 is provided with a cutting edge 21 to cooperate with the other parting member 16, and on its opposite surface is provided with a series of scores or shallow grooves 22 which cooperate with the inner surface of the clamping member 17 when the combined thread parter and clamp is closed, as indicated in Fig. 3. The clamping member 17 may be forn' ed of any suitable material, but in the present instance it is of polished metal, so that when the thread a is engaged by the scored or grooved clamping surface of the combined thread parter and clamp, the thread will sink into the grooves 22 and consequently be positively held thereby against the cooperating smooth adjacent surface of the clamping member 17. The scores or grooves 22 formed in the side surfaces of the combined thread parter and clamp 18 are preferably arranged so that when the thread is engaged thereby, such scores or grooves will extend transversely of the thread, a condition which is well shown in Figs. 3 and l.

Mounted for movement with the combined thread parter and clamp is the auxiliary clamp 23, the surface of which adjacent the clamping member 17 may likewise be pro vided with scores or grooves 2l, and which, like the grooves 22, may extend transversely of the thread. The auxiliary clamp 23 is subjected to lateral spring pressure, in order to cause the thread a to not only engage the grooves in the auxiliary clamp but to sink into and be positively held thereby. In the present instance of the invention, the auxiliary clamp 28 is secured to the combined thread parter and clamp 18 preferably at its frontward position, as at 25, so that the auxiliary clamp 23 moves with the combined thread parter and clamp and as the latter is caused to operate to clamp and part the thread, the auxiliary clamp 23 will also operate to clamp the thread, as indicated in Fig. 3. The auxiliary clamp 23 is preferably made of spring metal, having a lateral spring action, or it may be otherwise formed and held in place for movement with the combined thread parter and clan'ip. In the present instance, the stud or bolt 1:) which serves as the pivotal mounting for the combined thread parter and clamp 125, has a spring washer 26, Fig. 1, interposed between the side of the clamping member 17 and the head of the stud orbolt, the effect being that the clamping member 17 and the combined thread parter and clamp are held laterally spring pressed together. As it may sometimes be desirable to manipulate the stud or bolt 19, either to tighten or loosen the same and thereby regulate the lateral spring action of the washer 2(, the auxiliary clamp 23 is provided with an opening 27 through which a suitable tool ma be passed to manipulate the stud or bolt 19 The auxiliary clamp 23, as lltltiillafnit stated, is connected to the combined thread parter and clamp 18 for movement therewith, and the clamping member 1'? is relatively fixed, and to this end is mounted upon the stud 19 and its fronlwardly extending end portion, as at 28, is engaged by a pin 29 extending from the shuttle f'eeler.

Inasmuch as the thread holding grooves or scores 22 and 24 formed in the side surfaces of the combined thread parter and clamp and the auxiliary clamp act to carry the thread doi'vnwardly upon the opposite surfaces of the clamping membr 17, it is desirable that the thread supporting surface of the clamping member 17 be rounded, as at 30, so that as the grooved or scored surfaces carry the thread into clamping position, the rounded thread supporting surface 30 of the clamping member will allow the thread to bend into clamping position, as indicated in Fig. 3.

When the thread is clamped, Fig. 3, it will be apparent that the material thereof will sink into the scores or grooves 22 and 2 1 of the combined thread parter and clamp and auxiliary clamp and will be pressed against the smooth surfaces of the clamping member 17, with the result that there is a positive hold of the thread when it is clamped, and all liability of the thread being withdrawn from clamped position as the shuttle feeler moves frontwardly, is overcome, and the end leading to the cloth selvage will be positively held for the action of the temple thread cutter.

In connection with the grooved or scored clamping surfaces of the combined thread parter and clamp and auxiliary clamp, the present invention provides a stripper for stripping the thread and releasing it from the clamping surfaces when the thread parter and clamp is opened. A stripper is requisite, particularly with some characters of yarn, as, for instance, when the yarn is of soft and yielding character and adheres closely in or upon the grooved surfaces of the combined thread parter and clamp and auxiliary clamp. Such stripper may be variously contrived, but in the present instance of the invention, the upper portion of the clamping member 17 is formed with a forwardly extending stripping edge 31, having a downwardly inclined stripping surface 32 which, when the combined thread parter and clamp and auxiliary clamp are in open position, as indicated in Fig. 1, is below the lower edge portions of said combined thread parter and clamp and auxiliary clamp, the eiiect being that as the parts are opened to release the thread, the latter will be carried upwardly by the grooved clamping surfaces and the bight of thread, as at b, will be engaged by the inclined stripping surface 32 of the clamping member and freed from the holding grooves. This condition is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, where (in Fig. 1) the combined thread parter and clamp and the auxiliary clamp are shown as moving to their open position, and it will be noted that the bight of thread at Z) will engage the inclined stripping surface 32 of the stripper and be held from upward movement, and as the opening or releasing action of the combined thread parter and clamp and auxiliary clamp continues, as indicated in Fig. 5, the bight of thread at b will be further obstructed in its upward movement, with the result that as the combined parter and clamp and auxiliary clamp move to their full open position,

as indicated in Fig. 1, the thread a will be positively stripped from the grooved clamping surfaces and consequently be released before the shuttle feeler has reached its rearward shuttle feeling position.

In the presentinstance of the invention, the shuttle feeler thread parter and clamp will be closed to clamp and hold the thread when the shuttle feeler is in its front position and present the thread for the action of the temple thread cutter. As the shuttle feeler starts backwardly to its shuttle feel ing position, the parter and clamp will be opened and the previously clamped thread will be stripped from the grooved clamping surfaces and released before the shuttle feeler reaches its back position.

Any suitable means may be employed for opening the parter and clamp as the shuttle feeler moves to its rearward position, and such means are now common in the art. In the present instance, the bracket 4 has extending upwardly therefrom an arm 33 011 which is pivotally mounted at 3 1 an opening latch or trip 35 which may act upon the pin 36 extending from the combined thread parter and clamp as the shuttle feeler moves rearwardly. The means for opening the parter and clamp under the conditions above mentioned form no essential part of the present invention and may be as usual.

In a double grip shuttle feeler thread parter and clamp, such as shown in the present instance, the clamping member 17 is positioned between the combined thread parter and clamp 18 and the auxiliary clamp 23, and as the last named parts move to their clamping-position, the thread a sinks into the grooved or scored surfaces provided on each and double clamps the thread on the opposite plane surfaces of the clamping member 17. As the combined thread parter and clamp and auxiliary clamp are opened, as shown by Figs. 1 and 5, the thread, which, when in clamped position, was positively held by the clamping surfaces, will be stripped and freed therefrom, the construction being such that when the thread is clamped it is positively held by the grooved or scored clamping surfaces, and when these surfaces move it to releasing position, the thread which may be embedded in the grooved surfaces, will be positively stripped therefrom and freed, so that all liability of carrying the end of thread into rear position with the shuttle feeler is obviated, and perfect cloth may be woven.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a shuttle feeler thread parter and clamp, the combination of the shuttle feeler having a parting member and a clamping member, a combined thread parter and clamp movably mounted on the shuttle feeler and having on one face a parting edge and on the opposite face a grooved or our scored clamping surface to cooperate with the clamping member, and a thread stripper to strip and free the thread from the grooves of the said clamping surface as the parter and clamp are opened.

In a shuttle feeler thread parter and clamp, the combination of the shuttle feeler having a parting member and a clamping; member, a combined thread parter and clamp movabl-y mounted on the shuttle feeler and having on one face a parting edge and on the opposite face a grooved or scored clan'iping surface to cooperate with the clan'ipinp member, an auxiliary clamp at the opposite side of the clamping member movable with the combined parter and clamp and having a grooved or scored clamping surface, and a thread stripper to strip and free the thread from the clamping surfa as as the partor and. clamp are opened.

8. In a shuttle feeler thread parter and clamp, the combination of the shuttle feeler having a parting member, a combined thread parter and clamp movably mounted on the shuttle feeler and having on one face a parting edge and on the opposite face a grooved or scored thread clamping surface, a lai'uping member having rounded thread supporting edge, and a thread stripper to strip and free the thread from the grooved or stored thread clamping surface as the parter and clamp are opened and the thread is lifted from the rounded thread supporting edge of the clamping member.

4. in a shuttle feeler thread parter and clamp, the combination of the shuttle feeler having a parting member and a clamping member, a combined thread parter and clamp movably mounted on the shuttle feeler and having on one face a parting edge and on the opposite face a scored thread clamping surface to cooperate with the clamping member, an auxiliary clamp at the opposite side of the clamping member movable with the combined parter and clamp and having a scored thread clamping surface, and a thread stripper between the combined thread parter and clamp and the auxiliary clamp to strip the thread from the scores of the clamping surfaces as the partcr and clamp are opened.

41A double grip shuttle feeler thread parter and clamp, comprising, in combination, a shuttle feeler having a fixed parting member and a fixed clamping member, a combined thread parter and clamp having a grooved clamping; surface into the grooves of which the thread sinks when clamped between the said surface and fixed clamping" member, and a thread stripper which acts upon the thread as the parter and clamp are opened to strip and detach the previously clamped thread from said grooved clamp-- ing surface.

6. A double grip shuttle feeler thread parter and clamp, comprisin in combination, a shuttle feeler having a fixed parting member and a fixed clamping member, a combined thread parter and clamp having a grooved clamping surface into the grooves of which the thread sinks when clamped between the said surface and fixed clamping member, an auxiliary clamping" member movable with the thread parter and clamp at the opposite side of the clamping n'iember and having a grooved clamping;- surface, and a thread stripper which a;ts upon the thread as the parter and clamp are opened to strip and detach the previously clamped thread from said grooved clamping surface.

7. A double grip shuttle feeler thread parter and clamp, comprising, in combination, a shuttle feeler having a fixed parting member and a. fixed clai'l'iping member provided with a rounded thread supporting surface, a combined thread parter and clamp having a grooved clamping surface into the grooves of which the thread sinhs when clamped between the said surface and fixed clau'iping member, and a thread stripper which acts upon the thread as the parter and clamp are opened to strip and detachthe previously clamped thread from said grooved clampingsurface.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HARRY A. DAVIS 

